# Human epidemiology and response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS)

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $403,137

## Abstract

COVID-19 SURVEILLANCE STUDY
SARS-CoV2 causes severe respiratory disease seen predominantly in adults (COVID-19), but there is little
information regarding the infection burden in children. This is complicated by the observation that many
virologically-confirmed cases in children are asymptomatic. Undocumented, and likely infectious, cases could
result in exposure to a far greater proportion of the community than would otherwise occur. Indeed, it has been
proposed that undocumented (or silent) infections are the source for almost 80% of documented infections (Li
et al, Science); thus, it is critical to determine the silent and symptomatic infection rate in children.
To overcome challenges for clinical study implementation imposed by current healthcare access restrictions,
we propose a surveillance study to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infection (detection of virus in
nasal secretions) over time in children and their household contacts (caregivers and siblings). In addition to the
need for surveying children for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, this study will allow a comparison
between children with asthma and other atopic conditions and children without those conditions.
Figure 3.1 Study Overview
Study design
We propose to conduct a prospective surveillance study in which children (index child) and their household
contacts, including caregiver(s) and siblings, will be enrolled at study sites with NIH-funded studies. Potential
participants are those enrolled in existing NIH-funded studies (including the Wisconsin Infant Cohort Study, the
Childhood Origins of Asthma [COAST] study, the MUPPITS-2 study, the RACR study and the Urban
Environment and Childhood Asthma
[URECA] study). The intent is to recruit children who have asthma and/or other atopic conditions, as well as
healthy children, with extensive medical information and information on atopic status available as part of their
participation in cohort studies. The enrollment goal is approximately 2000 families to be enrolled over
approximately 2 weeks, and each participant will be observed for 6 months. During the study, biological
samples will be collected by the family at pre-determined intervals and symptom and exposure surveys will be
completed on-line at the time the biological samples are collected (Figure 1 Study Overview). Some biological
samples (nasal swabs and stool) will be collected by the caregiver at home. Blood samples will be collected at
a home study visit or at an independent clinical laboratory, depending on feasibility. Samples will be processed
in central laboratories, and Rho Inc. will serve as the coordinating center for the study.
The primary outcome of the study will be the percent of index children and their household contacts with
detectable SARS-CoV2 in nasal secretions. Secondary and exploratory outcomes are as described in the
study protocol.
Project Summary (Primary award-ICAC)
The overall goals of our proposal are designed to address current high priori...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10230381
- **Project number:** 3UM1AI114271-07S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** James E. Gern
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $403,137
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-11-09 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10230381

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10230381, Human epidemiology and response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) (3UM1AI114271-07S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10230381. Licensed CC0.

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